Music Review: Indie Round-Up - Larsen, Heyman, Everybody Else, Assembly, Brooklyn Rep - Page 3

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Everybody Else, Everybody Else

Speaking of power-pop, it ain't just old-timers like Richard X. Heyman bringing the joyful noise. Score another one for The Militia Group for their pickup of L.A. trio Everybody Else.

Mixing Squeeze-like pop sophistication with bubblegum, then spiking it with raunchy guitar, the band has hit on a sweet formula for their debut full-length CD. There's nothing terribly original here, but with their smart use of pop conventions and powerful knack for hooky melodies, Everybody Else has no need to reinvent the wheel - they just have to set it on fire, and they do, with songs like the infectious, anti-love callout "Meat Market" and the Matchbox 20-like "I Gotta Run." "In Memoriam" is an irresistible nostalgia trip, while "Born To Do" grinds out the jagged edge of love, with choked-off chords evoking the sinister humor of the Toadies. "Rich Girls, Poor Girls" is funny, imagistic and touching all at the same time:

the rich girls see the curving of the earth
when flying over Kansas city
but ice cream music floats along the hills
of where we're living
and those poor girls know the feeling of
the playground bench with darkness bleeding
like a palm tree, dreaming

i love you even though you got no dough

rich girls, poor girls
i just can't decide...

The fine songwriting continues throughout the CD - there isn't one weak song. "The Longest Hour of My Life" sounds like a lost 1970s pop hit, while "Button for Punishment" shows the band can also do a memorable acoustic ballad. The CD actually closes with one of its strongest tracks: the electronica-flavored "Alone in the World" is the kind of song Duran Duran might have had a smash with.

An impressive, spirited debut, highly recommended.

Assembly of Dust, Recollection

Assembly of Dust is the current project of Reid Genauer (Strangefolk, Phil Lesh and Friends). The band tours on the jam band circuit, but the best songs on this, its third studio album, have roots in 1970s country-rock with a progressive glint, as much Steve Miller and Steely Dan as Grateful Dead.

Arena-rock hooks, colorful, imagistic lyrics, emotional lead guitar from Adam Terrell, and shimmery piano work from Nate Wilson (who co-writes the songs with Genauer) are all here, but the most distinctive characteristic of the set is a sunny disposition. Even the songs with serious or sad lyrics are still move-your-body music.

Article Author: Jon Sobel

Jon Sobel is Blogcritics' Culture and Theater Editor. In addition to reviewing NYC theater, he writes a semi-regular round-up of independent music releases. By day he is a computer professional and a freelance writer and editor, and at night he's a …

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